Season Recap Part III: Free Agents(RFAs)
Restricted Free Agents are a whole different animal than Unrestricted Free Agents because the team that holds that certain player’s rights has the right to match whatever contract another team matches. This is usually what happens barring a max sort of contract, which means the Raptors and their current cap situation really don’t have the flexibility to go after the big name RFAs that could help their team.
That sure is a shame, because when it comes to athletic, drive to the basket players this RFA class is chocked full of players that could help the Raptors, specifically: Josh Childress(F), Josh Smith(PF), Luol Deng(SF), Ben Gordon(SG) and Monta Ellis(SG). But all these players are the type that either their team will keep or will get a contract that the Raptors don’t have the flexibility to offer, this leads me to some players that could be in Toronto’s range that might be available:
Kelenna Azubuike(SG): This player is a restricted free agent, but has the ability to opt out of his deal, which he is widely expected to do. He has only two seasons under his belt, and this last season he is coming off a year where he averaged 8.5 points and 4 rebounds in a little over 21 minutes a night for the Warriors. This after a rookie season where he put up 7.1 points and started 9 of 41 games he played in. He is really exactly what the Raptors need in an athletic SG/SF combo type player who is good defensively. If I were Bryan Colangelo I would aggressively go after him because he is really better than any of the UFA players available at this position and he might actually be had a price Toronto could afford. My only worry is that he would appear to fit in with the rest of the team in the sense that he doesn’t attack the basket very well and tends to settle for the open jumpshot. But it would be interesting what he could do on this team, as he could be given starters minutes because of the lack of depth at the position.
Juan Carlos Navarro(PG/SG): This is a player who would be useful to the Raptors in a couple of ways, first of all, he is a great shooter who can handle the point as well as playing the 2-spot. Secondly, he plays on the Spanish National Team with Jose Calderon so it could help make Calderon happy about coming back to Toronto if he is unhappy about his contract or playing minutes. The Raptors really don’t need any more shooters but it would be a great way of adding depth at the PG and SG positions, especially if there is an either or scenario where one of Ford or Calderon is in a gots to go situation.
Ryan Gomes(SF): He’s a player who could provide some great help to the Raptors, as he played well last season with the T-Wolves, averaging 12.6 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. He put up similar numbers (12.1 points/5.6 rebounds) in his final season in Boston and could be a player who could be had if a rebuilding Minnesota team feels is given a larger contract then they should put out. I really don’t see him as a solution though, as he put up average numbers on two really bad teams and see him more as adding to the mediocrity (Parker, Moon, Kapono) then fixing any sort of problem.
Craig Smith(PF): He’s an undersized PF who has gotten a lot of attention in Minnesota for his performances over the last two seasons. The second year player averaged 9.4 points and 4.6 rebounds this season for Minnesota and would be a great fit with the Raptors because he would give them some muscle and grit in the paint, which they really lack. He could help them bang bodies inside with Detroit and other teams that have deep frontcourts that have given Toronto troubles. I don’t see this as the biggest need for the Raptors heading into the off-season and I think Smith will probably get a bigger deal than he might deserve, so I would look elsewhere, like the UFA market, where a couple of players (Najera, Croshere) who have more experience could be had for a better deal.
Carl Landry(PF): He would be very much in the mold of Craig Smith and a player that can give the Raptors some edge and toughness in the paint. Now having said that he has said that he wants to return to the Rockets and I don’t see any possible reason why they wouldn’t match any offer. But still, he’s a player I would love to see in a Raptors uniform.
Now, all of this isn’t to say that the Josh Smiths of this RFA class can’t be had through trades, which is also a distinct possibility. If Jose Calderon puts his foot down that either it’s or T.J. Ford next season then that could put the Raptors in a situation where they might have to trade Calderon, because there is absolutely no market out there for T.J. Ford. This could lead to these and other big name players, like Corey Maggette, being involved in sign-and-trade deals.
A lot of that depends on what happens in about 45 minutes with the draft lottery and where a few teams that need PGs fall, which is really all the Top 6 teams with the exception of Memphis and to a lesser degree, Seattle. But heck, Memphis might pick Derrick Rose in an attendance coup if they get the top pick and try to trade one of their two or three point guards. But what I’m saying is, that while there is a plentiful amount of PGs at the top of this year’s draft there’s not five, so they might turn to other options, like Calderon or (hopefully) Ford, which could open up even more trade possibilities.
I’ll come back with some trade possibilities and maybe even some draft players that could help the Raptors out later this week.
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8 Responses to “Season Recap Part III: Free Agents(RFAs)”
May 21st, 2008 at 9:30 am
Very good analysis of the RFA’s! Juan Carlos would be a clutch move especially when everybody is predicting that TJ’s time in Toronto has come to an end. Not saying that he’s not a good point guard, but with the Raptor’s vision and the style of the team play, Jose would be a much better suitor. The only problem here is that the Dinos need a good slasher style player or a rugged rebounder, we’ll see how Jorge is doing next year, which begs the question is he even coming back or is he even playing? the Centre spot got filled in when Rasho opted to stay, another good rebounder in CB4 and Jamario is set. So who could be that someone to fill in the SF spot, while I believe the PF reserve spot should be for Ill Mago, considering he’s not a very good centre. By the by, how is his progress? I still believe he can be someone amazing, like freggin Dirk didn’t become Dirk overnight people!!!! it took awhile!!!
May 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am
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May 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I have a few options I wanted to bounce off you, Mike.
First, to Zaheed…Dirk did not become Dirk over night, that is correct, but he was never a liability (like Andrea) and he could always shoot the ball, Andrea is just a decent shooter (lower 3pt% than ) also, Dirk was not a number one pick.
I like that Rasho is hanging around, one of the consistent guys on the roster, and I agree with the idea that the Raps could use a rugged rebounder (because Rasho lacks the athleticism), but what about someone that can make an impact scoring on the low post. Bosh is not much of a low post scorer…he gets to the line a ton and is aweseome on the high post, but he isn’t Kevin Garnett, he doesn’t have the array of post moves to beat anyone in the paint. I haven’t heard anyone talking about Antawn Jamison being targeted as a UFA, but he would be awesome as the Stoudamire/Boris Diaw low-post player in Colangelo’s system. And, as a side note…Antawn shot 3’s just as well as Bargnani did last season. I know he would be pricey, but so is TJ Ford, and he’s gone.
Speaking of TJ, I hear a lot of people talking about moving him to bump up 10 spots or so in the Draft. First of all, I don’t think the trade is worth it unless they can get into the top 10 and solve the problems I mentioned above (low post scorer/rebounder) and I don’t think there’s anyone like that in the 6-10 range. I think they’d be better served taking Hibbert at 17, who is a better offensive player and stronger post player than Rasho is, an all-around upgrade, or if they want to find a slashing athletic scorer, take Joe Alexander, if he falls to them, I hear he will go in the 10-15 range.
Last thing, I love the analysis above and would be totally ecstatic if the Raps picked up Craig Smith. I’m a huge BC fan and watched as the guy was told for 4 years that he was too small, and became one of the best PFs in the country and now he’s getting it done in Minnesota despite being overmatched every night. I think he could be an awesome energy player for the Raps in the Jason Maxiell-mold, and spell Bosh of the bench, something the Raps struggled with big time this season.
Anyways, let me know what you think about any of that. I apologize for the long post, but if you have thoughts, I’d love to hear them.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Also, in those parentheses in my comment about Andrea, I meant to type “Antawn Jamison.” and the difference between the two isn’t even close…Andrea was 38.6% from 3pt land last season and Jamison was 43.6%. That’s an embarrassing stat for a guy considered a great shooter, not to mention a number on pick who is 7 feet but can’t grab a board or score in the paint or guard anyone even close to his size. I can’t stand Andrea, by the way.
May 31st, 2008 at 1:19 am
Great post Matt, I agree that Antawn Jamison would be a great addition to the team, I really didn’t include him in the discussion because of his price, but if the team moved T.J. Ford I would be all for going after Jamison as he not only brings a playoff-tested veteran to the team, but he also brings 20 points-10 rebounds nightly, something that would definitely help the Raptors out. He’s really a true second scorer behind Bosh that Toronto doesn’t have and would really put this team back into the discussion with the second-tier Eastern Conference teams.
With T.J. Ford, honestly, I’d love to get anything in return for him, I mean he’s owed $8 million next year, $8.5 year after that with a player option for the same amount in three years. That is a monster contract for a maybe top-15 PG in the league and that’s not even to mention the fact that one bad collision could end his career. I really consider him untradeable and if they can get anything of value back (not salary dump) then it’s just a bonus, and that includes trading up a few spots.
Also, I like your analysis of Roy Hibbert, as he’s only gotten better every year at Georgetown and he’s 7-2, I think he’s a very underrated prospect in this year’s draft.
With Craig Smith, what I would like even more would be a sign-and-trade deal involving Smith and Rashad McCants, as there are rumors he could be moved if they draft one of the combo guards. McCants is simply a pure scorer but it seems was constantly in the T-Wolves coach’s doghouse. This would really kill birds with one stone, the only problem is I don’t know what we would offer back, the only package I can think of is Rasho and Moon and picks because we don’t have much to offer.
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
It’s amazing how the TJ Ford/Charlie V trade looked genius at the time (i loved it personally) and with the bust of Bargnani, Ford’s bad back resurfacing and calderon playing like an all star last year, I think the Raps take that trade back in a heartbeat if the bucks let them…
Earlier in the offseason, I felt like the Raps could get a pretty good contributor in exchange for Ford, but the more I think about it…i have to agree with you, he will probably only get them a little depth and that’s fine…maybe they take a PG in round 2 to spell Jose. But if they can only trade TJ to move up in the draft, which it looks like they’re trying to do, I will be happy. some other team can deal with him killing their offensive flow.
June 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
I don’t know about the Charlie V/TJ Ford trade, I think it’s a wash with both teams being disappointed with their product. I mean, CV has actually regressed in Milwaukee, now I think the atmosphere had something to do with that but I think he’s about equal with Bargnani in terms of what he brings to the table. Ford has been better, but he pretty much has no trade value compared to CV because of his contract and spine condition.
I think the Raptors might be set at the point position, as Roko Ukic, Toronto’s 2nd round pick in 2005, is coming over this season and I think he can be a serviceable back-up to Calderon. If not there are a plethora of veteran PGs better than Darrick Martin available via free agency this season, so they should be set.
June 19th, 2008 at 6:02 am
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